This is the official InsideMacGames Call of Duty 5 Tweaks, Tips and News Thread!
Post your questions, tips and tweaks here! So far this is what we got.

Plot:
CoD5 is set in the eastern from for the United States and the eastern front for the Russians. Basically if you don't know history the U.S. is fighting the Japanese and the Russians are combating the Germans. The story mode features two campaigns, one featuring the United States Marine Corps battling the Japanese Army in the Pacific, and the other following the Soviet Red Army raiding Berlin. One part of a level entitled "Makin Raid" shows an Allied prisoner of war being tortured by the Japanese before having his throat slit by a katana. The player's character witnesses this scene and is later rescued by US Marines who liberate the camp. Two other levels were later revealed by IGN: one involves the player using the machine guns on a PBY Catalina to attack a Japanese naval fleet, and the other shows the beginning of the Russian campaign. In that level, the player and a Russian sniper attack German troops under the cover of a bombing raid.

Missions:
These are a few synopsis of a couple of missions I found. I wouldn't read this section because it has spoilers!
--Sniper (unofficial name)

You enter the level as a Russian soldier dizzy and confused, the screen is shaking and everyone around you appears to be dead. Voices of German Infantry can be heard until they eventually appear; the enemy platoon walks past you apparently checking bodies to make sure they are dead. Once they move on, your senses set in and you come back to awareness. Across from you awakens a Russian sniper, who is apparently a higher rank because he guides the mission from here on out. Enter actual Gameplay.

The sniper instructs you to take his rifle since he is unable to wield it, due to a wound. You take the rifle from him and he teaches you how to snipe, waiting for the perfect moment, being the hunter. You hear and see German infantry walking about and he instructs you to wait as a tank rumbles by.

At this point you take aim for your first kill shot and wait until a soldier strafes behind a sitting German, pull the trigger – bang, down the two of them go with a single bullet. You waited and waited, only firing your kill-shot when the roar of planes overhead deafened your shot not to reveal your existence. A dog did take notice however and comes after you and your comrade. In the demo, a skilled hip-shot took down the mutt; perhaps a melee would be even more rewarding.

Your instructor (Russian Sniper) teaches you the art of being a sniper and the thrill of the hunt. How a sniper stalks and takes down his enemy, waiting until the precise moment, hunting your enemy… until… you become the hunted. A German sniper has spotted you while rattling off an ineffective shot. Your leader motions to you and makes a dart for a building; you follow and get in safely through a window.

Not sure of the exact sequence of events here, but you are in the house and spot the building that the German sniper is in. The Russian sniper is playing the role of spotter while you are watching the building intently, there are many windows and the enemy sniper never shows himself for more than an instant in the same window (Also mind you, the window the sniper appears in is totally random, so if you replay the level, it won’t be the same the next time). You have to be quick to the trigger with steady aim, as the enemy sniper is pretty darn difficult to spot and shoot before disappearing – also, because as he appears, he is shooting at you.

You take him down eventually and your shot is heard, bringing enemy infantry to your position. You can hear them outside and then MG fire rains in upon the two of you, among Molotov Cocktails which ignite your inhabitance into an inferno. The only way to go is Up since the enemy has surrounded you. So, you climb the stairs while following your leader, once up top you are on the run when the floor gives way and you fall through catching yourself. The screen starts to flash the trademark Call of Duty red damage pattern when your comrade comes back and pulls you up. You get out and run forward and that was it… To Be Continued scrolled across the screen.

This level which we will dub “Sniper” for the time being, was a real treat since we were the first people on the planet to see it outside of the teams at Treyarch and ATVI. When we arrived, it concluded a span of press weeks where this was not shown to them, it wasn’t ready. We were the first to experience it visually, and it reeked of the essence of the Call of Duty franchise, for those of you whom know what I am speaking.

Flying-Boat (unofficial name)

This level takes place in a sea-plane - the PDY Catalina. Treyarch Studios actually had a company make an exact model of the plane that was assembled at the motion capture studio which was used to replicate the Flying-Boat. They used the mo-cap technology to digitally design the skeleton on the plane, to an inch. With that, they were able to create the plane texturally and graphically, down to a roll of toilet paper in the aft of the plane.

They took it a step further in regards to the animation by hiring a Cirque Du Soleil performer to maneuver from the aft of the plane forward, and vice versa to replicate a soldier rotating from the 2 aft turrets, to the one under the cockpit. At first, the nimble performer did it so quickly that it wasn’t realistic, so they had him do it again to more accurately reflect a soldier lumbering through the plane.

With that, as with the plane, they used that geometry to make a digital model and of course the character you see in game. They showed us a split screen of the performer moving through the wooden skeleton of the plane, next to the video game soldier moving through the COD:WW flying-boat and it was a mirror image. Pretty cool.

Anyways, onto the level itself…

You are in the Pacific and engaging Japanese vessels… well… basically a fleet. Hey, it’s a video game, they have to make it fun, lol. Your Flying-Boat has 3 turrets, two of which are aft on either side, and the other is under the cockpit. Your job is to man the turrets while rotating between each depending on the target. Switching between the turrets is animated (mo-capped) by the Cirque Du Soleil performer and will occur with the press of the Action button.

So, basically you let loose on the turrets and wreak havoc on the opposition, but unlike other games, it isn’t simply getting enough bullets into a boat to sink it. You need to go for the spot lights on the boats first, as that will lessen the flack fire coming your way. Then, shoot at the hull or bridge and cripple it. Damage is specific to the area you target, so if you say… shoot the deck, floorboards will splinter up. It isn’t generic damage where you shoot the boat and different places blow up in sequence regardless of where you are shooting. It’s area specific, which is nice.

While you’re shooting, you’ll realize that you need to lead your target depending on your vector in relation to the boat, it’s easy to see this by watching your bullet path splatter through the surf, which again, is really fun to watch. Targets are a-plenty, and you need to be on your game, the fellas at the Studio make it look easy… but dam, there’s a lot going on in that ocean with seemingly endless targets.

Eventually this level ends like the others with a faded screen and To Be Continued… scrolling across. It looks to be really unique and quite a bit of fun, as a result, is one that I am really looking forward to.

Makin Raid (Pacific Campaign) – This is what you all have gotten a glimpse of in the trailer that was on the Marketplace this past weekend. It starts with the cut-scene that you’ve heard of, you are on your knees while your buddy takes a cigarette to the eye, followed by a katana blade to the throat. His back is to you when this happens, blood hits the walls, and then the guy comes for you… At this point a fellow soldier comes in and stabs the aggressor to save your skin: Enter actual Gameplay.

From this point forward, you roll through a Japanese village on the shoreline with some comrades. Huts dot the shore with a jungle inland, you fight resistance and make it through the huts and into the jungle… this is where it gets intense. You’re strolling along and all of a sudden a flair goes up where the previous Japanese lying apparently dead, now spring to life – a frantic firefight ensues… followed by “To Be Continued…”

Palelieu (Pacific Campaign) – Ok again you are fighting the Japanese, as the previous level introduced you to the “surprise tactics” of the enemy, this one expands on that concept – and the feel of COD:WW. This is where the flamethrower comes in handy, real handy as you walk through grasslands with trees around, you constantly need to sweep the area with your torch. The enemy lurks in unlikely spots and you need to flush them out. Hit a tree, and a sniper may drop that is tethered with a rope, sweep some grass, and a guy may spring up screaming while in flames.

This is an essential concept, leave no spot unchecked, slash and burn while keeping a weary eye. Light a fire and watch it travel, know wind direction, and plan where you want that inferno to go! Later in the level you fight for a complex and then participate in a ground battle where tanks are everywhere. Pick up a bazooka and get to work… oh, by the way… this works well while you have an Online Co-op friend sweeping the area with his flamethrower!

Gameplay: This CoD is going to have VEHICLES! Thats right folks you can finally do a drive-by with flame throwers! Its also going to see the return of persistent stats and unlock-able weapons and perks. Iv also read you'll be able to sick dogs on people! World at War will feature a more mature theme than previous installments in the series. Swimming will be introduced to the series. While in water, the player cannot sprint and will only move at half speed. Flamethrowers, introduced in Call of Duty: United Offensive, will appear alongside flammable environments. The game will be more open-ended than previous games in the series, as there will be multiple ways to complete missions.

Multiplayer: World at War will feature cooperative gameplay with up to four players via split screen on consoles, or four players online, for the first time in the franchise. In addition, the Wii version will also feature multiple players on one screen. It will also use a perk system similar to Call of Duty 4. Activision has also confirmed the presence of vehicles in multiplayer. The Nintendo DS version will feature online multiplayer. Six new multiplayer game modes have been announced; team deathmatch, hardcore HQ, multi-bomb search and destroy, hardcore free-for-all, war, and capture the flag. However, the game's online focus won't end with simply gunning down enemy soldiers and offering moral support to buddies trying to make it through the game's "darker themes." Activision notes that Call of Duty: World at War will shell out persistent experience points to players participating in both competitive and cooperative online battles, as well as a difficulty curve that will scale depending on "a player's experience rank and rank of the player's friends.

Players:
Consoles: 1-18
PC's: 1-32
Co-op: 1-4

Some modes will have 2 players,8,12,and 18.(Consoles)

Multiplayer looks a lot like COD4:MW, in regards to the Graphic User Interface and Gameplay. Those who love the predecessor, will feel right at home. Party lobby, load screens, map selection, etc., all look quite familiar.

Perks – Yes, they are indeed back. To answer the overwhelming concern, last I heard, YES, Martyrdom and Juggernaught will be making a return. They will be balanced by counter perks and it’s being discussed whether perks such as Martyrdom & Last Stand will be viable if you do not still have that perk’s tool in your arsenal (Realism v Gameplay).

XP – Experience points are back, you can earn them in MP as well as in Co-op in order to unlock new weapons, attachments, etc. Again, Challenges take the place of online Achievements and will add to your overall XP. Keep in mind, what your skill is in MP, will determine what the AI is in online Co-op. Since you earn XP in Co-op, the better you are, the harder the AI opposition will be!...

Perks:
Juggernaught - Extra Health
Martydom - Drop a live Grenade when you die
M2 Flamethrower
M9 Bazooka
Pyromaniac - Like Sonic Boom, this perk boosts the damage caused by Molotov Cocktails and the Flamethrower
Satchel Charge - WWII equivelent of the C4
Bouncing Betty - WWII equivelent of the Claymore
Shades - WWII equivelent of the Flasbang
Gas Mask - protects you from the effects of Turban Nurve Gas (a new grenade type in WaW)
Second Chance - Just like Last Stand, When you've been shot you drop to the ground armed only with your pistol to give you a few seconds to take out any enemy before you bleed out. If a team-mate also has Second Chance he can revive you
Fire Proof - Protects you from the Flamethrower & Molotov Cocktail
Dexterety - Lets you reload, arm Bouncing Bettys & prep Molotov Cocktails quicker than normal

Vehicle Perks
Greased Bearing - Speed up the rotation of the tanks main cannon
Ordinance Training - Boosts the firing rate of the tanks main cannon
Water Cooler - Cools down the tanks secondary Machine Gun, allowing you to use it for longer
Lead Foot - Speeds up the speed of the tank

Killing Spree!
Like Call of Duty 4, World at Wars multiplayer mode rewards players for killing multiple enemies without dying. Here's what you'll earn for your kill streaks.Recon Plane: Kill three enemies without dying and you can deploy a recon plane. It temporarily highlights all nearby enemies on your radar screen.Artillery strike: Kill five enemies and you'll be prompted to select a strike zone. Seconds later, artillery shells will shriek in to obliterate the area.Attack Dogs: Kill seven enemies and you'll release several attack dogs that will chase down and kill enemy team members. Dogs will seek out hiding enemies, so you can follow them to surprise your enemies.

MULTIPLAYER BETA ANNOUNCED
Their Will Be a Mulitplayer BETA on the PC & Xbox 360 in October.

Boot camp will soon take on a new meaning, with multiplayer BETA’s coming in October for both the Xbox 360 and PC! These MP BETA’s will serve as an early chance for players to practice the tactics needed for survival in the intense chaos of Call of Duty: World at War.

Through the MP BETA players will experience the game’s new squad system, as well as fan favorite PERKS and kill streaks – all preparation for the full battle, which will commence on November 11, 2008 when Call of Duty: World at War is released to retailers nationwide.

The PC BETA will be available for download in October, but what about the Xbox 360 BETA tokens? Start by registering a user account here at CallOfDuty.com, or pre-order the game at any GameStop retail location or online in North America at: http://www.gamestop....roduct_id=71812.

Detailed information on precisely how the Xbox 360 tokens will be distributed, as well as information on getting the PC version of this multiplayer BETA will be available right here at the official CallOfDuty.com blog. Check back frequently for new info!

Registered members will be the first to hear about next steps, and the Xbox 360 BETA tokens are limited in supply, so register or pre-order today!

Cool Facts:World at War will have an approximately two-year long development cycle, double that of Treyarch's previous title, Call of Duty 3. The game will be powered by an enhanced version of the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare engine - improvements have been made to the physics model. Environments are now more destructible and can be set on fire with the flamethrower, which features propagating fire. Bullets can cut holes in thin wood, making a gap big enough for the player to climb through. Kiefer Sutherland and Gary Oldman have been cast as voice actors for the game, the former taking the role of the main character, Sgt. Roebuck.
A full-sized replica PBY Catalina was constructed for motion capture use.

is it really official?
or is it in fact more un-official with grand machinations on becoming official??

Also, I dont think that CoD:WaW is actually going to be CoD 5. I mean, yes, it is the 5th full CoD game, but the rights to CoD have passed back to Infinity Ward, and I assume that they are working on the official CoD 5. You're better off thinking of CoD:WaW as a stand alone expansion until my theory is confirmed or obliterated completely.

Good work on the thread though, its very informative for those people interested in the game.
Thanks

is it really official?
or is it in fact more un-official with grand machinations on becoming official??

Also, I dont think that CoD:WaW is actually going to be CoD 5. I mean, yes, it is the 5th full CoD game, but the rights to CoD have passed back to Infinity Ward, and I assume that they are working on the official CoD 5. You're better off thinking of CoD:WaW as a stand alone expansion until my theory is confirmed or obliterated completely.

Good work on the thread though, its very informative for those people interested in the game.
Thanks

No most everything here I have varified on several sites as being "official". If something isnt correct than a LOT of sites are wrong including www.callofduty.com
Also this IS CoD5. IW (Infinity Ward) is working on CoD6 already and it should be out sometime late 2009. They are leap frogging studios every year.

No most everything here I have varified on several sites as being "official". If something isnt correct than a LOT of sites are wrong including www.callofduty.com

oh, you know what I mean...
But just in case you dont, I meant is this really the official IMG thread, as in a thread created or licensed by IMG to uphold its name and stature through informing us of these things?

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Also this IS CoD5. IW (Infinity Ward) is working on CoD6 already and it should be out sometime late 2009. They are leap frogging studios every year.

That's the million dollar question. I don't think that the problem is WWII itself--enough stuff happened in World War II to fuel hundreds of games, movies, and books. It's more of an issue of gaming being a infantile medium, developers lacking creativity (or the funding for a creative project), but to go into detail would result in an essay that should be the subject of an article, not a forum post.

Yes! At least I do. I want to go up against the Japanese or Italians though. I like to coax Italians out of their foxholes with, "Eh Tony! Sammata you??" When he stands up to say, "Sammata wit YOU!" *Blam* he's dead. Throwing a bar of soap in there will flush them all out better than a grenade.

hmm, with more open maps and vehicles it sounds like they might be copying battlefield a bit.

The maps are gonna have to be way more open then the COD4 maps cuz vehicles wouldn't work in any of those except maybe creek. I'm pumped for this game though except I probably won't get it till at least christmas cuz I just got COD4 for my 360 a few weeks ago.

oh, you know what I mean...
But just in case you dont, I meant is this really the official IMG thread, as in a thread created or licensed by IMG to uphold its name and stature through informing us of these things?
not after CoD:WaW is released they arent...

Nope. Not in any shape or form is this thread related to IMG. Other than its on their forum. If its an issue Ill be more than happy to edit the post.

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Answering that question would take a while. I'll toss out a couple of complaints that you can take a shot at:

Nope. Not in any shape or form is this thread related to IMG. Other than its on their forum. If its an issue Ill be more than happy to edit the post.

nah, just winding you up.

Personally I find that WW2 was done to death when the technology hit to portray small scale actions in MOHAA and the subsequent glut of shooters. However, they were all very similar because of the fact that tech wasnt developed enough to give larger scale battles than this. This is partly because of the ever increasing cost of graphics, but with the latest engines and the processing power weve got now, it should be possible to open this all right up for some constantly shifting battles (sod historical accuracy, I want to see the Nazi's pull it off in Russia with some huge constantly shifting battles, destructible terrain, and different outcomes each time).

Equally, the war in the Pacific has always had a difficult time because Trees used to look like crap, too many of them would slow down a game engine, and we were still restricted to what is largely a corridor shooter. Now we can open it up, have a whole island to fight across, and fill it with both enemy and friendly AI.

Just look at Operation Flashpoint 2 and the frankly amazing looking work theyre doing with that...

Well I might as well answer you here so that everybody can learn about it. The Mail Man wants to know how many images he can put into a post. The answer is, you can put 3 images into a single post. HOWEVER, if you try to add 3 more images in a second post before 5 minutes have elapsed, the system will try to concatenate the two posts into one, count 6 images and return an error message. Post 3 images, wait for at least 5 minutes, then post 3 more.